Have you been waiting for the holidays to fade before you start an "Old Year's Detox" or a New Year's Heath Plan? Now's the time to prepare! Here's my favorite. Alejandro Junger's Clean plan eliminates the foods we're most likely to have allergies or sensitivities to and provides a list of healthy foods to eat. In the 21 day plan, which I've done successfully, you have a healthy balanced smoothie for breakfast and dinner, a healthy lunch from the allowed foods list, and just enough snacks so you don't get hungry. I know what you're thinking and yes, you can have your meal for dinner on those days you can't avoid a dinner out.

Will it work for you? If you want increased energy it will. Many people do lose some weight on the plan, especially men, but it's not a weight loss plan. I like to call it an energy creating plan. You will feel the difference once your body eliminates the caffeine (that's right, no coffee but there are lots of alternatives) and other foods that your body does better without.

Supplements and shakes are available though the Clean website or you can put together your own. There is also a 7 Day Plan and a Gut Cleanse plan. Each of these plans has a book available with details and recipes. The Clean book is highly recommended. Even if you don't do the cleanse it's a great resource. Once you start the plan the website has lots of links to recipes on other sites as well. It's not one of those diets where you have to stick to the book. You'll also learn what to substitute to make your own recipes clean, part of what makes it a lifelong health change for the better.

This plan also has the best support site I've seen. You can log on to the Discussion Forum to see a myriad of recipes and questions and answers as fellow cleansers work their way though the 7 or 21 days. It's a very supportive group and sure to get you through the plan.

I call it a diet for life because you will continue to integrate many of it's elements into your eating habits after the cleanse is over. For example I still replace my meals with the wonderful shake recipes on occasion, and I'm always conscious of the 12 hour overnight digestion period. Plus, you'll find yourself automatically making substitutions when you cook, making your meals healthier. When you start adding other foods back into your diet after the cleanse you'll learn what foods you are particularly sensitive to so you can avoid them in the future.

If you're looking for a new way of eating for your new year this is it, a "diet" for life!